D-9 Trade Management Visa Korea — International Business Representatives & Branch Managers

D-9 is appropriate for three categories:

1. Trade representatives: Representing a foreign company in Korea for ongoing trade activities without establishing a Korean entity

2. Branch or liaison office managers: Managing a registered Korean branch office (지사) or liaison office (연락사무소) of a foreign company

3. Foreign individual sole proprietors (외국인 개인사업자) — April 2025 addition

As of April 2025, the D-9 category was expanded to include foreign nationals who wish to operate as sole proprietors (개인사업자) in Korea for trade-related activities — not as an employee of a foreign company, but as an independent operator.

Requirements for the sole proprietor track:

• Complete the OASIS startup/business preparation evaluation and score 30+ points across OASIS criteria 1–8

• Register a sole proprietorship with the Korean tax authority (사업자등록)

• Demonstrate a viable trade or commercial business plan

• The business must be genuinely trade-oriented — not service employment

This closes a gap where foreign individual traders and small-scale import/export operators had no clear visa pathway between the corporate D-8/D-9 tracks and the employment E-series.

D-9 is NOT for:

• Running a fully incorporated Korean company (D-8 territory)

• Employment at a Korean company in a management role (E-7 or D-7 territory)

• Pure sales activities without management responsibility

Branch office (지사): Can conduct commercial transactions; must be registered with KOTRA

Liaison office (연락사무소): Cannot conduct revenue transactions; for market research and relationship management only

Key documents:

• Foreign company's business registration certificate (apostilled)

• Letter of appointment confirming management authority

• Branch/liaison office registration certificate (if applicable)

• Evidence of trade activities: contracts, purchase orders, business plan

• Financial statements or proof of business viability

Duration: 1 year, renewable annually.

Sending an employee from overseas to manage a Korean subsidiary: . Investing to create a new Korean company: . Representing a foreign company in Korean trade without full incorporation: .